2018 Remarkable! Season Preview – Cleveland Indians

by | Mar 5, 2018 | Baseball

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2017 Record: 102-60 (1st in AL Central – Lost ALDS)

The Cleveland Indians won the second most games in the 2017 regular season. They exited the playoffs at the hands of the New York Yankees. They enter the 2018 season with a lot of the same pieces, but there will be a new every day first basemen. To take Carlos Santana’s place, Cleveland signed Yonder Alonso. The starting pitching staff is led by 2017 AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber. Here’s our Remarkable! season preview:

 

Starting Pitchers

 

Corey Kluber
  • He threw his off-speed pitches for a strike 73.8% (1,251/1,695) of the time in the 2017 season — highest among qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: 63.1%.
  • He had a strikeout rate of 34.1% (265/777)  in the 2017 season — 3rd highest among qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: 22.3%.
  • He allowed an OPS of just .556 (777 PAs) in the 2017 season — best among qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: .723.

 

Carlos Carrasco
  • He allowed a slugging percentage of .157 (20 Total Bases / 127 ABs) on changeups in 2017 — 3rd best among qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: .425.
  • Opponents had a miss rate of 29.8% (445/1,495) against Carlos Carrasco in the 2017 season — 6th best among qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: 24.1%.
  • He allowed an OPS of just .629 (274 PAs) against the heart of the order in the 2017 season — 4th best among qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: .779.

 

Trevor Bauer
  • He has not allowed a run in the first inning in any of his last 14 games dating back to July 27, 2017 (this is the longest active streak).
  • He struck out 29.0% (113/390) of right-handed batters he faced in the 2017 season — 10th highest among qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: 23.0%.
  • He threw his curveball 42.6% of the time (284/667) with RISP in the 2017 season — highest among qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: 12.4%.

 

Josh Tomlin
  • He walked 14 of 585 batters (2.4%) in the 2017 season — best among non-qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: 8.6%.
  • He had a first-pitch strike rate of 68.5% (401/585) in 2017 — highest among non-qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg; 60.3%.
  • Right-handed hitters had a line drive rate of 26.2% (67/256) against Josh Tomlin in the 2017 season — highest among non-qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: 21.9%.

 

Mike Clevinger
  • Hitters chased just 76 of Mike Clevinger’s 562 fastballs out of the zone (chase rate of 13.5%) in the 2017 season — lowest among non-qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: 22.9%.
  • Opponents batted .108 (28-for-259) against Mike Clevinger with two strikes in the 2017 season — 2nd best among non-qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: .179.
  • He threw his changeup 30.9% of the time (258/834) vs left-handed batters in the 2017 season — 3rd highest among non-qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: 16.2%.

 

Danny Salazar
  • Left-handed hitters had a miss rate of 33.7% (140/415) against Danny Salazar in the 2017 season — best among non-qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: 22.2%.
  • He allowed a slugging percentage of just .217 (31 Total Bases / 143 ABs) on changeups in the 2017 season — 4th best among non-qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: .411.
  • Hitters chased 130 of Danny Salazar‘s 277 changeups out of the zone (chase rate of 46.9%) in the 2017 season — 3rd highest among non-qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: 35.6%.

 

Relief Pitchers

 

2017 Bullpen Ranks

Stat # Rank
AVG .225 4th
OBP .288 2nd
SLG .345 2nd
OPS .633 2nd
BB% 7.4% 2nd
K% 27.5% 4th
GB% 46.7% 7th

 

Andrew Miller
  • He struck out 42.2% (73/173) of right-handed batters he faced in the 2017 season — 2nd highest among qualified RPs in MLB; League Avg: 24.9%.

  • He threw his slider 57.6% of the time (569/987) in 2017 — 5th most among RPs in MLB; League Avg: 28.5%.
  • He allowed a slugging percentage of just .205 (44 Total Bases / 215 ABs) in the 2017 season — best among qualified RPs in MLB; League Avg: .377.

 

Cody Allen
  • He threw his curveball 44.5% of the time (519/1,165) in 2017 — 4th most among RPs in MLB; League Avg: 23.4%.
  • Left-handed hitters have a miss rate of 36.8% (84/228) against Cody Allen in 2017 — 12th best among qualified RPs in MLB; League Avg: 25.0%.
  • He struck out 38.5% (47/122) of left-handed batters he faced in the 2017 season — 5th highest among qualified RPs in MLB; League Avg: 24.4%.

 

Zach McAllister
  • He recorded 57 of his 66 strikeouts (86.4%) with his fastball in the 2017 season — 5th highest among qualified RPs in MLB; League Avg: 44.4%.
  • Hitters swung at 33.9% of Zach McAllister’s non-fastballs (65/192) in 2017 — 5th lowest among RPs in MLB; League Avg: 47.7%.

 

Nick Goody
  • Right-handed hitters had a miss rate of 42.1% (126/299) against Nick Goody in the 2017 season — tied for 3rd best among qualified RPs in MLB; League Avg: 28.0%.

  • He allowed an OBP of just .186 (140 PAs) with two strikes in the 2017 season — tied for 15th best among 116 qualified RPs in MLB; League Avg: .231.

 

Dan Otero
  • He’s allowed no extra-base hits in his last 15 innings pitched (Steve Cishek has the longest active streak at 22.0).
  • He induced opposing hitters to ground into 12 double plays in 47 opportunities (25.5%)  in the 2017 season — 2nd best among qualified RPs in MLB; League Avg: 10.6%.

 

Tyler Olson
  • He allowed a slugging percentage of .217 (15 Total Bases / 69 ABs) in the second half of the 2017 season — 10th best among qualified RPs in MLB; League Avg: .405.
  • He has pitched 22 straight innings without allowing an earned run (Stephen Strasburg has the longest active streak at 24.0).

 

Hitters

 

2017 Offense Ranks

Stat # Rank
AVG .263 5th
OBP .339 T-2nd
SLG .449 T-2nd
OPS .788 2nd
BB% 9.7% T-3rd
K% 18.5% 2nd
QAB 2715 4th
wOBA .345 3rd

 

Francisco Lindor
  • He had a Well-Hit Avg of .258 (59/229) versus relief pitchers in the 2017 season — best among qualified hitters in MLB; League Avg: .167.

  • He swung and missed just 8.2% (20/245) on pitches 94 mph or greater in the 2017 season — 4th best among qualified hitters in MLB; League Avg: 19.3%.
  • He slugged .414 (128 total bases in 309 ABs) with two strikes in the 2017 season — 7th best among qualified hitters in MLB; League Avg: .311.

 

Jose Ramirez
  • He batted .271 (151-for-557) with two strikes over the last two seasons — best among qualified hitters in MLB; League Avg: .194.

  • He slugged .638 (190 total bases in 298 ABs) on the road in the 2017 season — best among qualified hitters in MLB; League Avg: .457.
  • He struck out 69 times in 645 PAs (just 10.7%) in the 2017 season — 4th lowest among qualified hitters in MLB; League Avg: 19.3%.

 

Edwin Encarnacion
  • He slugged 1.038 (55 total bases in 53 ABs) on the first pitch of at-bats in the 2017 season — 2nd best among qualified hitters in MLB; League Avg: .614.

  • He drew 103 walks in 668 PAs (15.4%) in 2017 — 5th best among full-time hitters in MLB; League Avg:8.5%.
  • He chased just 22.0% of non-fastballs out of the zone (168/765) in the 2017 season — 7th lowest among qualified hitters in MLB; League Avg: 33.0%.

 

Jason Kipnis
  • He grounded into 0 double plays in 56 opportunities (0.0%) in 2017 — best among part-time hitters in MLB; League Avg: 11.1%.
  • He had 37 Extra-Base hits out of 78 total hits (47.4%) in 2017 — 20th best among part-time hitter in MLB; League Avg: 36.2%.

 

Yonder Alonso
  • He slugged .737 (70 total bases in 95 ABs) on pitches 94 mph or greater in the 2017 season — 2nd best among qualified hitters in MLB; League Avg: .455.
  • He batted just .181 (13-for-72) against LHP in the 2017 season — 5th worst among qualified hitters in MLB; League Avg: .273

 

Bradley Zimmer
  • He batted just .131 (8-for-61) on inside fastballs in 2017 — 2nd worst among part-time hitters in MLB; :League Avg: .268).
  • He struck out 99 times in 332 PAs (29.8%) in the 2017 season — tied for 24th highest among 321 part-time hitters in MLB; League Avg: 20.5%.

 

Michael Brantley
  • He had an OBP of .375 (248 PAs) versus RHP in 2017 — 12th best among part-time hitters in MLB; League Avg: .324.
  • He swung and missed just 13.0% (80/615) in the 2017 season — 9th best among part-time hitters in MLB; League Avg: 23.6%.

 

Lonnie Chisenhall
  • He slugged .632 (43 total bases in 68 ABs) on breaking pitches in the 2017 season — 2nd best among part-time hitters in MLB; League Avg: .381.
  • He came to the plate with runners in scoring position in 81 of his 270 plate appearances (30.0%) in the 2017 season — 14th highest among 321 part-time hitters in MLB; League Avg: 24.8%.

 

Rajai Davis
  • 17.5% of Rajai Davis’ plate appearances lasted only one pitch (64/366 PAs) in the 2017 season — 6th highest among part-time hitters in MLB; League Avg: 10.7%.
  • He grounded into 12 double plays in 61 opportunities (19.7%) in the 2017 season — 15th worst among 176 part-time hitters in MLB; League Avg: 11.5%.

 

Yan Gomes
  • He threw out 40.4% of runners attempting to steal (23/57) in 2017 — best in MLB; League Avg: 22.8%.

  • He came to the plate with runners in scoring position in 132 of his 383 plate appearances (34.5%) in the 2017 season — 2nd highest among part-time hitters in MLB; League Avg: 24.8%.

 

 

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